The Oprah's interview has somehow made it into the weekly Business of the House in the House of Commons
Hansard has now uploaded the transcript for today (Thursday 11th March) and some online social media and Daily Express has picked this up.
Sir David Amess (Conservative MP for Southend West) raised a question to his colleague, the Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg on the possibility of having a debate on the role of the monarchy. The backbencher at one point criticised Harry & Meghan for airing family conflict.
Sir David used his question to the Leader of the House to heap praise on Her Majesty and her hard work after nearly 70 years on the throne.
He said: "Will my Right Honourable Friend find time for debate on the role of the monarchy?
"During such a debate, I would very much hope that the argument could be made that it is never wise for a family dispute to be aired in public with everyone getting damaged by the fallout.
"Perhaps during such a debate, we can celebrate the fact that we are so blessed to have had as our monarch for 70 years compared to the alternative of having a president as our head of state which we very nearly had under Tony Blair."
At one point in his response, Jacob Rees-Mogg recited the first two verses of the National Anthem. Hint: It's not the verse starting with "Thy choicest gifts in store". I know some people might think that he could be making a subtle dig at Meghan on the National Anthem, given that he has defended The Queen in his fortnightly podcast on Conservative Home. Some cynics however view it as a indirect scathing attack on Harry & Meghan, because he deliberately chose the rare second verse with elements of enemies in it. In their mind the "enemies" is implied to Harry & Meghan, however, it could have been republicans or those who oppose the monarchy/royal family.
Mr Rees-Mogg simply replied by reciting the national anthem after noting such a debate would steal all the time away from the legislative discussion.
He said "Were we to have a debate to praise our sovereign lady, it would take up all the legislative time available in this House. So all I would say is God save our gracious Queen, long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen. Send her victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us, God save the Queen.
"O Lord our God arise, scatter her enemies and make them fall.
"Confound their politics, frustrate their knavish tricks, on Thee our hopes we fix. God save us all."
Rees-Mogg shuts down calls for Royal Family debate with national anthem 'God save Queen'
JACOB REES-MOGG rejected calls for a debate on the role of the monarchy by starting to sing the national anthem in the Commons.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1...ily-debate-God-Save-the-Queen-video-latest-VN
A video from Richard Wheeler's twitter account. Wheeler is the parliamentary editor of PA media.
Richard Wheeler @richard_kaputt
Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg showed his support for the Queen by delivering a spoken-word rendition of the national anthem...
11:09 PM · Mar 11, 2021·Twitter Web App
From a royal fan and watcher on instagram:
@windsor.royal.family
Leader of the House of Commons Jabob Rees Mogg recites God Save The Queen
In response to question on Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview.
12h
https://www.instagram.com/p/CMSxoubnjzy/
The atmosphere and conversation itself was light-hearted with laughters across the chamber. At the end of the video, the Shadow Leader of the House, Valarie Vaz quipped "How is he allowed to say it?". Even the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, appeared to be shocked especially with his delayed response of "Right".
?
Here is the Hansard for the Business of the House. The conversation is at the very end.
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commo...6A9-449D-92B5-4C4530836EDD/BusinessOfTheHouse
On a side note, the full words to the national anthem is can be found at Classic FM. Surprisingly, the verse starting with "Thy choicest gifts in store" is the fifth one, despite the fact it was often sung as the second verse (e.g. in Last Night of the Proms)
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/british-national-anthem-lyrics/